Morris tribune., 1887-01-05
Ny LADY ALISON.

!
from those beautiful lips. She sat with
t ghtly clasped hands, her head thrown
back agE'itst the trunk of great oak,
that swept its messy arms downward
as if yearning to enfold its depoSed and
beggared princess, There was a hard
glitter in tke half-shut black eyes as
they roamed from tree to shrub. from
the fountains finging their diamond
spray high up in the sunshine to the
graceful statuary cleaning white
through the dark green leaves Not
nook nor corner in the familiar
grounds and the stately gray stone pal
ace, standing like crown in the midst
Of them, that did not possess its asso-
c alton dearer than life. This had been
her kingdom where she had reigned
naughty as a princess with her equals,
sweet and gracious to those beneath
her in station, dangerously alluring to
ALL worshiped not only for her birth
right OF beauty and wealth, but for her
fathers name, that was wreathed in
laurel wherever patriotism and bravery
arc known and honored. One short
year, and to-day the father slept in a
dishonored grave; while his daughter
stole through the gates of her heritage
as stranger might come to take a last
| look before going far away to join with
unframed hands in the worlds rough
struggle for bread. What wonder that
the commonplace words of comfort
sounded like mockery to the proud
spirit torn by storm of bitter. rebel
lous thoughts. that arraigned with i'm
pious impartiality the justice of God
and man. The Alison Van Dant of one
year ago had given place to cynical
woman, returning hatred and scorn to
the world that had once come to wor-
ship and went away to revle. She an
swered her friends pitiful glance with
an angry CLINT from the sombre eyes,
while the harsh laugh rang out again.
Good, substantial advice, equally
practicable and original, but, unfortu-
nately, there IS wide difference between
looking on the bright side of life from
distance and eXper encing it"
She sat upright. and went on in a
high, strained voice:
jesse GrevsOn, did it never occur
10 YOU that God is on the side of wrong
and iniustice?'
''Teaus! Spare me that mortified stare.
You would make a beautiful Lady
Macbeth. But listen. This is nv an
eestra! home; monument to genera
tons of generous and honorable men
and women. How bIamelessly my faith
er upheld the stainless name, thousands
whom his great heart benefited could
tell. The Van Dants always used their
power for the good of those less for
hlnate than themselves with proud
uplifting of her head-"which. as the
world goes she continued, bitterly,
rs the reason it was taken away from
their most worthy representative, and
ing quality in his vile nature"
His intense love for his son is re-
leeming quality said gentle Jessie,
always anxious to find good in every
one.
"Ryall Gillette idolzes his own am
bit Gus schemes in the future of the
child. It is the only love of which he
is capable" retorted Alison Van Dant,
scornfully. "Yet, when he came to us,
five years ago, asking only our friend
ship because his father and mine were
warm school friends, he was so humble
and, at the same time, so candidly So
lie tous to please his employer
that he would have deceived a
more suspicious nature than my faith
er's. Without guile himself, he did not
look for it in others. Gradually this
accomplished villain so insnuated him
self into the confidence of his benefac-
tor that he was allowed to assume IN
limited control of the business which
the hOnored name of Austin Van Dant
had induced rich and poor to invest
Their savings. Then, one terrible day,
the crash came, when, amid the frenzied
reprOaches of those who had been re-
duced to poverty through their trust in
him, the innocent old man faced the
uEmerited disgrace long enough to give
them all he possessed; then, with
blessing for his only child, he died of a
broken heart. But the man who had
spread the net that entangled so many
lived respected and prosperous, having
saved enough of his illgotten gains to
purchase the home he had made desc
late. Over the coffin of my murdered
father | cursed him, and, lifting my
hand to heaven, prayed that vengeance
might come to him through the child
for whose sake he acknowledged he
had laid the infamous scheme" She
laughed in wild exu tat on. "Ah! Ryall
Gillette feared me then. and he fears
me-the poor factory girl--yet. The
curse of an orphan girl never dies"
Jessie Greyson shuddered; but her
sweet eyes sparkled through mist of
sympathizng tears; sparkled with
happy light that wounded while it
puzzled her angry companion.
"Hasty prayers are sometimes heard
and answered. in Gods way, not in
ours" Before that days sun slipped
behind the hills. already glided by its
declining rays, Jessie remembered her
words as prophecy. Now she turned
that luminous glance upon Alison, and
said. quietly:
$50 on"
A dusky red stained the perfect face
from throat to brow, and the slender
hands were clasped together convul-
sively; then, with a defiant look, Alison
obeyed.
g Go onr Have l not told you
enough to prove that only wrong and
injustice prosper in this world? Mop
Most steadfast Sphinx, with woman's
countenance and heart of stone, will
you compel me to rehearse the old
story of TimonP Friends grown cold;
benefits forgotten! Bah! You know
it all. Only yesterday the owner OF the
factory, John Jessup, once my fathers
soepsioncrs came to me and told me,
Alison Van Dant. that. as times were
ard. he would be obliged to cut down
lis force of help, but. owing to the
infercession of Mr.. Gillette did not
wait 10 hear the result ! commanded
him to lie silent, and walked out OF the
H. Ia.a ba ;uos,It Faaapjf